Obit: Junker, John D. (1963 - 2009)  

Contact: Dolores Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Junker, Miller, Duvall, Macone, Radtke, Brandtner, Swartz, Parkins, Mohr  

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) June 10, 2009

 Junker, John D. (5 July 1963 - 3 June 2009)

John D. Junker, 45, of Stanley died Wednesday, June 3, 2009, as the result of a plane accident.  He was born on July 5, 1963, in Stanley, the son of Donald and Ilene (Miller) Junker.  After graduating from Stanley-Boyd High in 1981, he married Tammy Duvall on May 4^th, 1984.

John was known as "Mr. Fix-It."  He worked all over the area fixing many types of engines.  Some of his clients called him a "genius’ because of his ability to invent whatever was necessary to fix or build and complete the job at hand.  John was a true "Jack of all trades."  Recently, he was flourishing with his hydro jetting business.  His sons will proudly continue on that business.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy; his daughter, Jessica of Pulaski; his sons: John at home and Jason of Stanley; his parents, Donald and Ilene Junker of Boyd; two brothers: James (Laurie) of Ashland and Gene (Rebecca) of Stanley; and five sisters: Debra (Pat) Macone of Willsboro, NC, Deanne "Boots" (Gary) Radtke of Boyd, Darlene (Louie) Brandtner of Eau Claire, Denise (Lyle) Swartz of Stanley, and Gladys "GG" (Jon) Parkins of Eau Claire.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at the Holy Family Hall, Stanley, WI with Rev. Steven Mohr officiating.  Burial was in the Edson Union Cemetery.

From the same issue of the Thorp Courier, front page news:

Ultra-light plane crash near Stanley, pilot killed:  At approximately 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office received a call that an ultra-light plane had crashed west of Stanley, near the Ace Ethanol plant.

Witnesses described the ultra-light as flying low in the area, which is not uncommon, as they know the pilot.  The ultra-light nosedived into the ground and came to rest against a garage.  The ultra-light was removed from the pilot, John D. Junker, 45, of Boyd, by witnesses and CPR was started.

Junker was then transported by ambulance to Stanley Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. The FAA is looking into the crash to determine any contributing factors or mechanical issues with the ultra-light.